Inspiration and Kidspiration seem to be valuable programs that have many different benefits. I am a visual learner as are many others. The visual nature of these programs helps users to really make connections and understand context rather than just regurgitating surface material. In class Dr. Ransom mentioned a blogger who was concerned with how teachers sometimes under-utilize the capabilities of Inspiration/Kidspiration. I thought this was an interesting concern because, well really because its true. Teachers who are inexperienced with the technology they are using are not going to be good teachers and seldom do they become interested in what they are teaching and how they are doing it. (Thus, the importance of this class! ) What a waste for the students and a shame for the budget. As future teaching professionals we need to remember to stay on top of our game, use what works, what is available to us and use it well! I look forward to our project where we will learn to use Inspiration.
Spreadsheets…..and M&M’s
First of all Yum, any adult or child for that matter can truly be enticed with candy! When we started the class I was definitely one of those people who envisioned spreadsheets as the uniform chart mathy looking things. But as we learned in class there is more to spreadsheets than boring! A simple task such as sorting M&M’s is fun as well as interactive. This simple in-class experiment really helped me see what I could do with spreadsheets in my elementary classrooms. Not only does a class task such as this help children with math it also assists in developing skills in computer literacy, creativity and depending on how you plan the lesson writing skills as well. Now there is one problem, I am learning many wonderful things but when it comes time, will I use them? I hope so, because I think that computer skills are necessary in the world today. But on the other hand it does take time as well as a bit of creativity to come up with a child friendly project. I guess I really won’t know what I do until it is time for me to teach and manage my own classroom.
What can I do with Word?
Yesterday in class we went over Microsoft Word. In Graduate school, you ask? Yes. And I learned a lot, in about an hour. This knowledge would have made my undergrad projects and presentations more aesthetically pleasing no doubt! I am already envisioning the nifty handouts I could make and creative projects my upper-level classrooms could do. I particularly liked learning how to insert hyperlinks and bookmarks. These will be wonderful tools in familiarizing older children with the Internet. While these aspects of the Word program can make a document more interesting and exciting I am at a loss as how to utilize such programs in the pre-School/ pre-K levels. I don’t see giving handouts to little ones as a good idea, and most schools do not have the technology that could project a computer image for all to see. Any suggestions would be great!
The wide eye of the Internet
There are many important lessons that can be learned from technology. I was previously unaware of alternatives to the typical software programs one might install on their computer. Programs such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel can be accessed through the Internet and utilized in a similar manner to those that are installed on computers. This is great for those that are on the go or those who are unable or unwilling to pay the fee for installing them on their own computers. I particularly enjoy the lesson that can be learned from this simple example, that is that there are always alternatives to the norm. This I think, is a lesson that can easily be taught to children. Whether in the form of this particular example or in all other aspects of life as well. Many times normative behavior derives from lack of exposure. While one must examine the Internet with a critical eye, one of the best aspects of this technology is the exposure it grants to those who utilize it.
Techno Sk3WL?
It is true that as teachers we must know our audience, if we don’t it is close to impossible to reach them. But to what extent? Of course we should be familiar with the modes of technology our students utilize on a daily basis but how, if at all, do we incorporate this technology into the classroom? It is hard for me to shake the ‘too much to fast’ mentality. Yes, the innovations of the Internet and the wonderful tools of entertainment that exist now are great, but they are not everything. Even in my own generation (I’m 27) I have seen what I feel are detrimental side effects of these technologies. Person to person contact, an avenue that helps build community and groups people together has been changed. When I think about my last semester at a relatively small undergraduate college, I see the lack of communication. Specifically, I am referring to iPods. Students who have ear-buds plugged in do not talk to one another or even make eye contact as much as when they are not utilizing some form of personal entertainment. Yes, this is related to technology in primary/secondary schools. Does catering to this ability to satisfy ones self be it in the form of knowledge or entertainment deteriorate our social structure? Let’s take a 12 year old “digital native” for example. Perhaps this child just got on-line and researched 5 peer reviewed journals and wrote a wonderful paper and never left their home. What contact did they miss out on? They did not help the elderly man across the the street, nor was a wonderfully helpful librarian met at the library, nor did they have the satisfaction of struggling for information only to leave successful. Why are these things important, they are aspects of community that can not be replaced or made more convenient by technology. So, my point? Well, as a teacher I plan to be as familiar with where my audience is coming from as I can. But I will aim to not forget what makes a community great and successful and also what develops the young to old, experience. As a teacher I strive to teach children to balance all aspects of their lives as best they can.
